Today is National Volunteer Week, with this year’s theme being ‘Something for Everyone’. We know that after brain injury many people find purpose giving their time to helping others, and so this week, in recognition of our clients who are volunteers, we’d like to highlight their stories.
Our first story for this week is Peter.
Peter volunteers on Mondays at Meals on Wheels in the South, where he assists with food delivery to people’s homes.
Peter says of his volunteer role: “I love being around the people and getting out. It’s fun meeting people all the time and talking to the customers - we have a ball. I love getting out of the house instead of being home all the time.”
Asking Peter what would you tell someone who is thinking about doing volunteer work, he says, “I would tell anybody that it’s a great thing to do, people have to be fed. And that my mates love that I do it.”
Thank you Peter for being a great volunteer, and for sharing with us what you love about volunteering. If you’d like to share your volunteering story with us, please send us a PM so that we can share it!
Applications for the current Board Trainee role close on Monday 20 May.
If you are interested in learning more about the role, please visit our website here to review the position description, to make enquiries, or to apply.
https://braininjurysa.org.au/get-involved/volunteering-at-bisa/board-traineeship-position-description/
John has been a dairy and cattle farmer his whole life, firstly in The Mallee before moving to his lovely farm on the Murray River about an hour out of Adelaide – where he has been for more than 20 years. And, as a farmer, John has always been used to doing everything on his property himself.
It’s been just over 12 months since the car accident that caused John’s traumatic brain injury (TBI), when the car he was travelling in with his wife was hit by a truck – the circumstances as to what led to the accident is still unclear today.
Read John`s story as he shares his experiences across the past 12 months, with a hope that he can help others who are in the early parts of their journey. His full story is available on our website: https://braininjurysa.org.au/johns-story/
Our Dietitian works with a range of people with ABI to better understand how their diets can impact a range of things like mental health, fatigue and overall wellbeing.
Wondering how Dietetics may help be able to help you throughout your ABI journey? Our Dietician can help with a range of things, like:
• Mindful and intuitive eating 🥑🥕
• Fatigue management 💤
• Gut & brain health 🧠
We currently have immediate capacity across our three Brain Injury SA Hubs for Dietetics. If you’re looking to learn more about the link between gut and brain health, or plan out a healthy diet to support your brain injury, put in a referral by calling us on (08) 8217 7600 or putting in a referral online: https://braininjurysa.org.au/contact/making-a-referral/
Are you looking for a fulfilling and rewarding job that has exciting perks and professional development opportunities? Join us at our Career Information Night this Wednesday!
We will be sharing upcoming vacancies not yet advertised and give all attendees an opportunity to chat to a few of our staff members about what it’s like to work at Brain Injury SA.
Save your spot by registering for a free ticket from Humanitix:
https://events.humanitix.com/brain-injury-sa-career-information-night?c=meta
If you’re a regular at our Southern Hub, you may have noticed that the puzzle in our waiting room has finally been completed! 🧩
Over the course of many months, participants carers, family, friends and staff at Brain Injury SA have worked together to complete the puzzle by adding in a few pieces at a time.
We`ve already kick started the next puzzle, so next time you’re in clinic at the Southern Hub, be sure to add in a few pieces!
Are you looking to deepen your understanding of Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)?
Whether you work closely with someone who has an ABI as a healthcare or support worker, or are just wanting to broaden your knowledge, our ‘Understanding ABI’ training is a fantastic way to better understand how an ABI can impact someone, and how you can best support someone who has one. Led by our qualified professionals, the training offers invaluable insights into the impact of ABI and practical tips for offering meaningful support. There is also a drop in Q&A session with someone who has lived experience of a brain injury.
Our next ‘Understanding ABI’ training will be held Monday 17 June from 9:30 – 12:00. Tickets are $80 + GST, with a 10% discount if you book for three attendees at once.
Get tickets through Humanitix at the link below!
https://events.humanitix.com/understanding-acquired-brain-injury/
If you want to find out the potential opportunities there are with a career at BISA, grab a free ticket and come along to our Career Information Night!
We will be sharing upcoming job positions, more information on the future vision we have for our organisation and the great benefits and opportunities for professional development we offer.
To find out more and to register, visit Humanitix via the link below.
https://events.humanitix.com/brain-injury-sa-career-information-night?c=meta
Have any questions around Plan Management or the NDIS?
Kerryn from My Plan Manager will be at our Southern Hub this Thursday, 9 May, and will be able to answer any questions you may have on NDIS plans and funding, PACE, Plan Management and more.
She will be in hub from 10:00AM onwards, so be sure to say hello if you see her!
This is Kym – smiling proudly in front of his car in the brand-new disability car parking space that was allocated and painted last month – a park he campaigned for to get!
Kym has been using the carpark at Noarlunga for some time to access appointments at Brain Injury SA, and was feeling increasingly frustrated at having to park so far away from the clinic, and feeling tired and sore from the at times long walk in.
Deciding this wasn’t good enough, he reached out to the carpark owners to request a space to be allocated, but was told this wasn’t going to happen, and that there were plenty of other disability carparks in other parking areas – and that if they weren’t suitable, he should consider getting a lift instead.
This unhelpful and unsupportive response led Kym to reach out to the local Member of Parliament, who quickly took it upon themselves to ensure that this was put right. Within a few weeks of this conversation, a disability carparking space was finally allocated, and has been used consistently by many different people accessing the area since – highlighting how much it was needed.
Kym hopes by sharing this story he will inspire others into taking action when seeing something that needs changing or addressing - as small changes in lots of places can make a huge difference collectively. Just this small change alone has had a big impact for many people already.
Kym’s message is that he would like to see a disability carparking space made available in EVERY carpark across the state to ensure improved access for everyone. Thank you Kym on making this big change for the benefit of so many others.
Today is Administrative Professionals Day!
On this day, we wanted to recognise our Administration team for the consistent contributions they make behind the scenes to keep Brain Injury SA’s operations running seamlessly. From managing funding and finances, to building relationships with everyone who comes into our hubs, their dedication ensures that the overall experience when visiting Brain Injury SA is welcoming and efficient.
Angela, our Executive Team Assistant, is a valued member of our Administrative staff who works consistently to ensure that the entire organisation is operating smoothly. She loves the diversity of her role, and enjoys interacting with people coming into our hubs for services, their families and carers, and our extended Brain Injury SA team each day.
To all of our Administrative team here at Brain Injury SA, we recognise and thank you for the hard work you put in to keep BISA thriving.
Flinders University are looking for people who have experienced an ABI or stroke to participate in their study involving the RehabChat application they’re developing to track goal setting during therapy.
You will be asked to share your experience using their RehabChat chatbot and will be rewarded for your time with a $50 gift voucher. The sessions run from 60-90 minutes, and there are multiple locations around Adelaide that the study will be held.
If you’re interested in taking part or are looking for more information, please contact Judith Hocking to register your interest by email or phone at judith.hocking@flinders.edu.au or 0466 187 793.
Meet Tim! He loves to cook and has extensive experience working in the hospitality industry, where he worked in Australia and overseas.
Tim has gathered two of his favourite recipes to share with you all, Kedgeree and Beef Stroganoff, and has shared his top tips for getting the most out of your meals when you’re cooking at home!
🔸 Take your time, try not to rush in the kitchen.
🔸 Adjust recipes according to your own taste.
🔸 Be imaginative and innovative, add more of what you like.
🔸 Make each dish your own, be creative!
A big thanks to Tim for sharing his cooking expertise! 👨🍳
An invitation from the Board of Brain Injury SA to people with lived experience of brain injury...
The Board of Brain Injury SA is now recruiting to fill an upcoming vacancy for the role of Board Trainee.
The Board has created the role of Board Trainee to provide an opportunity to someone living with brain injury to gain experience in governance and actively contribute to the directions of services delivered by Brain Injury SA.
Now into its fifth year of operating, this opportunity has proved very successful both for the Trainees involved, the Board and the organisation as a whole. From this experience we know that the Board Trainee will gain valuable board experience, governance training, and develop personal networks within the NFP governance community.
During the traineeship the recipient will have access to Board members as mentors, who will be available to meet to discuss the recipient’s professional development goals or other aspects of governance responsibilities. As a trainee, they will participate fully in all aspects of Board discussions and deliberations but will not be entitled to vote and will not hold the usual responsibilities as a Board Director.
Appointment to this role is via an application and selection process that is further outlined on our website, along with a description of the key responsibilities of the Board Trainee: https://braininjurysa.org.au/get-involved/volunteering-at-bisa/board-traineeship-position-description/
Questions regarding the Traineeship can be directed to Liz on 8217 7600.
Our BISE Group (Brain Injury Support and Education Group) is on again next week, Wednesday 1 May, 10.30am-12pm at 70 Light Square, with this month`s topic focusing on Getting a Good Night’s Sleep.
Sleep problems after a brain injury may be common, and can compound the fatigue issues that so many people with acquired brain injury struggle with.
Facilitated by one of BISA`s psychologists, this group is a great opportunity to learn some key practical tips to support you in consistently getting a better night’s sleep, and is also a valuable opportunity to connect with others in a safe and understanding space.
Thanks to the generous support of @Lifetime Support Authority - LSA, this group program is free to attend and includes a light morning tea.
This group is suitable for adults of any age with an acquired brain injury, regardless of cause.
Registration is essential via email: info@braininjurysa.org.au or edward@braininjurysa.org.au. For more information on BISE Group, or an insight into future topics, please visit our website or phone us on 8217 7600.